Got invited to a cabin out there this weekend.
Anyone familiar with the open water swimming there? Any tips and or routes.
In addition any good bike loops 50 mile + as I am not familiar with the area.
Want to put in some good training in the mornings.
I spend a lot of time in the summer at our cabin further North in Glacier National Park, but am very familiar with the Flathead area.
The lake is massive so you should have no problem with open water swimming and finding plenty of distance that is not bothered by boat traffic. Any idea what part of the lake the cabin is located? For cycling routes, I would suggest staying away from any of the roads that are directly around the lake unless you can get done real early in the morning. Usually there are a lot of RV’s and motorcycles flying along those roads as they make their way up to Glacier. Plenty of backroads with less traffic around BigFork and Kalispell. Strava or Garmin Connect should have plenty of different routes in those areas.
If you really want to have an incredible ride, take a day and head up to Glacier and ride over the Going to The Sun Highway (Logan Pass) easily the most beautiful ride I have done in the US. Cyclists have to be off those roads by 11:00am though. Start at Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge (Feels like you are riding in the Alps)
Wow, enjoy yourself. I grew up about 40 miles south of the lake, and I miss it. Where will you be starting from? Stay out of the shallow rocky water while swimming or you’ll itch for days.
You’ll have buckets and buckets of road mileage once you’re outside Polson – heading you could take back roads to Charlo . Plan on being unsupported ( I’m sure you have this figured out already). There used to be a race from Dixon to Hot Springs. Highway 93 is unnerving for biking. I didn’t like the look of Highway 35 for biking, but it’s scenic. North from Bigfork isn’t too shabby either. You can get out on back roads and just cruise.
I’m seriously jealous. I was just out there a couple weeks ago and had no chance to ride.
Wow, looks like this will be a pretty good spot for a getaway and training. My favorite. I just got confirmation we are staying on the lake near Lakeside.
Bike - I will check Garmin connect asap, as Training Peaks did not have much. Can I head south on 93 to Polson or is that quite a bad road?
Swim - How is the lake in the “Lakside” area?
Run - This is the easy one, but should I be concerned about wildlife? I have done some lengthy runs in Banff up through the mountain villages, but once I found myself alone for multiple miles I felt like I was cougar prey. Should I be concerned?
Thanks everyone
Yeah, you scored a great location. I am kicking myself now— because you’re basically getting to do what I wanted.
South on Polson on 93 will probably be a little congested . It’s a well-maintained multi-lane road with some nice hills, but it’s not exactly tranquil. I don’t know the area north of there as well as I do things from Polson southward, so I can’t advise what the small roads around Kalispell would be like — so I’d go ride them if I could.
I have no idea about the swimming in the area, but the lake is cold. Swimmer’s itch is a problem everywhere in the lake.
Another nice ride would be going from Lakeside south to Big Arm on 93, take HWY 26 southwest toward Hot Springs. Should be much, much less traffic, but what traffic there is may be moving -fast-.
You shouldn’t be concerned about wildlife, but a local may have more specific advice. We hiked into the wilderness area south of where you’ll be and had no issues.
While there, never turn down huckleberries. And the little espresso wagons at the edges of the road are kind of stupidly good.
slightly OT, but I have been to Glacier many times and messed around in several lakes there and never got swimmers itch…what causes this?
An amazingly beautiful area! I’ve heard there is great cycling out there (maybe a path around the lake or something?) and I’m kicking myself for not even doing any ows while I passed thru there (for some reason was in a rush to get to Glacier). Definitely going to have to make it back!
Swimmers’ Itch is caused by a parasite found in warm, shallow water of the lake. It gets under your skin, and then subsequently causes an “allergic reaction.” It’s not pleasant.
I spent the summer weekends of my first and second year in college on the Lake, basically adopted by my best friend’s family. I contracted the itch only twice, with a few moments spent in still water over some rocks. The second time I swear I felt like I’d gone through the shallows fast enough to avoid exposure, but it got me. Avoid the shallow rocky water and you’ll be fine.
Wow, looks like this will be a pretty good spot for a getaway and training. My favorite. I just got confirmation we are staying on the lake near Lakeside.
Bike - I will check Garmin connect asap, as Training Peaks did not have much. Can I head south on 93 to Polson or is that quite a bad road?
Swim - How is the lake in the “Lakside” area?
Run - This is the easy one, but should I be concerned about wildlife? I have done some lengthy runs in Banff up through the mountain villages, but once I found myself alone for multiple miles I felt like I was cougar prey. Should I be concerned?
Thanks everyone
My dad lives in that area. I’ve ridden around the lake this time of year and traffic is not too bad at all. There can be some heavy wind in the Polson area. The ride to Lake Mary Ronan isn’t bad.
The lake is generally still fairly cold and there is a lot of boat traffic. Some inlets in the Lakeside area, but be careful. I rarely swim in the lake and I would definitely go early to avoid the heavier boat traffic.
I always run on the roads. Try and get yourself a trail map. My attempts at running trails up above Lakeside have not been particularly successful. Never worried about wildlife though. There’s a book about bears in Glacier that will scare the crap out of you, can’t remember what it’s called. Sorry.
Enjoy the trip. Beautiful spot.
Night of the Grizzlies? The Blair Witch for real hikers.
Take a wetsuit. I froze on a beautiful early August morning on one of the hottest summer’s in history there ('98) and barely made it back to the pier. Beautiful sitting all around. We bike around the Lake which was great. Have fun, Doug
Really impressed with this lake and thanks for all the help. We swam every morning in a bay and they water was unbelievably warm. Couldn’t have been any better. Bikes were decent enough along 93 around to 82 and through big fork. Some tight shoulders but the roller and mini climbs were good. Run was good as we incorporated quite a few hills into the mix. Great weather. Great lake. Awesome mini training camp with some rnr over the past 2 days. Could have been any better.
Cheers